Two BC Ferries crew members have accidentally fallen in the water at Swartz Bay terminal, North Saanich Wednesday afternoon, April 18.
According to the spokesperson for BC Ferries, Deborah Marshall, the crew of Queen of Cumberland were performing rescue boat drill, and a couple of crew members were in a boat as it was raised onto the ferry. The davit (mechanism which raises and lowers the boat) failed, causing the rescue boat and the crew to fall into the water. The BC Ferries company deployed their own rescue boat and pulled the men out of the water.
One of the crew members was injured, and both were transported for assessment to hospital. Both men were wearing survival suits.
The JRCC (Joint Rescue Co-Ordination Centre), operated by Canadian Forces, stated that they had dispatched a rescue boat from Ganges on Salt Spring Island, but recalled it within 3 minutes of the initial call at around 1:00 p.m. In an initial report, the crew succeeded to self-rescue and no injuries were reported, but that was later amended.
After initial reports of injuries, emergency personnel from Saanich Peninsula were also called to the accident. Reports stating that the crew were trapped were not accurate.
BC Ferries cancelled the rest of the day’s cruises for Queen of Cumberland as they are investigating the cause of the failure.